Georgia's State Security Service (SSSG) has arrested a former law enforcement officer accused of fraudulent extortion after allegedly extracting GEL 11,300 (approximately USD 4,500) from families of imprisoned individuals.
Extortion Scheme Named Senior Officials
According to security officials, the suspect deceived family members by falsely claiming that senior figures—including SSSG Chief Gela Geladze and Tsotne Ivanishvili, son of Georgian Dream honorary chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili—could facilitate early prison releases and favorable plea agreements.
Authorities revealed that the perpetrator leveraged the names of top officials to convince vulnerable family members that political influence could bypass regular judicial processes. The suspect's name, former agency attachment, and the identities of the detained individuals have not been publicly disclosed.
Legal Penalties Under Criminal Code
The SSSG confirmed that formal proceedings are active under Article 180 of Georgia's Criminal Code, which covers fraud involving substantial monetary sums.
If convicted, the former law enforcement employee faces between six and nine years in prison as investigators continue examining the full scope of the scheme.
